Phonographic recording and reproducing system



May 8, 1923.

Sheets-Sheet '1 H. c. EGERTON v PHONOGRAPHIC RECORDING AND' REPRODUCING SYSTEM Filed Jul is; 1918 //7ve/7/ar.' Henry 6. fye/vo/v.

May 8, 1923. 1,454,157

H. c. EGERTON PHONOGRAPHIC RECORDING AND REPRODUCING SYSTEM Filed July 19. 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet //7 vmak Henry C. fger/on.

Patented May 8, 1923.

' OFFICE.

HENRY C. EGERTON, Q12 BIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR '10 WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

rnonoonarmc nnceanme Application filed July 19,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. Eonn'ron, a citizen of the United States, residin at ltidgewood, in the county of Bergen, tate of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Phonographic Recording and Reproducin Systems, of which the following is a ful clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to recording and reproducing systems and more particularly to systems in which recording and reproducing is accomplished telephonically.

The principal object of the resent invention is the provision of. a system in which the recordingmeans is automatically controlled so as to be operated only during the actual delivery of thematter to be recorded and in which the recording means is not operated during appreciable pauses occurring in the delivery of the matter being recorded.

' In accordance with this feature of the 'invention, means controlled by current variations developed by the transmission of the,

matter to be recorded is rovided and uti-' lized to control the recordmg in such a way that the record is consumed only during the actual delivery of a message the record not being consumed during appreciable pauses oclcfuring in the delivery of the message itse A further object of the invention is to amplify the answering message in its delivery and to also amplify the message to be recorded in its transmission to the recording record. In accordance with this feature of the invention there are provided electromagnetic reproducing and recording. means together with an e ectrical amplifier, means to transmit matter to be recorded to the amplifier, and means to associate the amplifier with the reproducer to amplify the currents developed thereby and to associate the recorder and ampllfierto amplify the matter to be recorded in its transmission to the recorder.

Another object of the invention is'to re-- store automatically the apparatus of a system to normal condition upon termination of the message or upon the occurrence of such a delay in the delivery thereof, that it is to be presumed that no message is to be given or that the message has been .completed. In

accordance with this feature of the inven- AND REPRODUCING SYSTEM.

1918. Serial No. 245,757.

tion, means are provided which effect the restoration of the apparatus to'normal or idle condition in event that no operating currents are received within an alloted continuous interval; which interval is preferably long enough so that pauses of reasonable length in the delivery of a message will In the drawings which illustrate embodiments of the present invention, Fig. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a combined answering and recording system as a plied to a subscribers telephone station; ig. 2 illustrates a slightly different control arrange-- ment from that shown within the dotted lines in Fig. 1 and which can be readily substituted therefor; and Fig. 3 illustrates one form of the invention as applied to a receivingftation of a telephone dictating system;

eferrmg to Fi a subscribers set i is indicated as connected to line conductors lO'and 11, terminating at a jack 12 at a central office, at which the line 1 the usual apparatus of relay 13, line lamp 14 and cut-ofi' relay 15-of the line are also located. The calling end of a cord circuit C having'the usual plug 16, supervisory relay 17, supervisor lamp 18 and ringing key 19, is also indlcated and ,provides for telephonic communication with station A in the usual manner,.so lon as the subscriber is present to attend to his calls. In event the subscriber should leave the telephone unattended, it is desirable. that parties-calling that station be informed of the subscribers absence and that they may leave a, message. In the present instance apparatus is provided for .this purpose and the subscriber on leaving first operates a switch 20 to connect the apparatus with the line conductors 10 and 11, and immediately thereafter closes a switch 26 which conditions the system for subsequent operation.

Assume that this has been done. On cl'o- I sure of the switch 20, an operating circuit is established for relay 21, extending from ground, right-hand winding of linerelay 13,

normal right-hand contact of cut-off relay 15, conductors 10 and 2 2, 'winding' of relay 2 1, conductors T23; and 11, normal left-hand contact of relay 15, and leftis accordingly prevented.

The circuit for the stepping magnet; 24 and relay 29 is normally open at switch 26 and due to the fact that-switch 20' is the first to be closed, and that closure of relay 21 um mediately opens such circuit before the switch 26 is closed, the closure of switch 26 does not complete the circuit at this time. Under these conditions closure of this circuit depends upon the deenergizatlon of re lay 21 as hereinafter explained.

On a subscriber calling party A the o erator would insert the calling plug 16 of the cord circuit C with which the calling subscribers line had been connected into jack 12 of line A. The plug and jack are so arranged that upon insertion of the plug the sleeve contacts engage in advance of the tip and ring contacts, whereby the cut-off relay 15 is energized during insertion. The operation of relay 15 opens the circuit previously traced for relay '21, which immediately releases, completing a circuit for stepping relay 24, extending from grounded battery, normal contact of release relay 25, normal contact of relay 21, switch 26, armature and winding of relay 24 to ground. The stepping relay on each ener gization rotates a cam switch 27 one step and in the present instance closes a contact 28, completing a locking circuit for itself extending from grounded battery, normal contact of relay 25, contact 28, and alternate contact and winding of relay 24 to ground. The tip and ring contacts of the lug 16 and jack 12 are engaged immedlatel subsequent to the operation of stepping relay 24, and thereby complete a second circuit to again operate relay 21, this circuit extending from battery of the cord circuit C, tip contacts of the plug and jack, conductor 10, switch 20, conductor 22, winding of relay 21, conductors 23 and 11, ring contacts of jack and plug, and winding of supervisory relay 17 back to battery. The energization of relay 21 opens its normal contact but as the locking circuit for relay 24 has already been established this does not interfere with the operation of the system, The supervisory lamp 18 is illuminated during the insertion of the plug, and while the supervisory relay is included in the circuit just traced, therelay 21 is of such high resistance and the supervisory relay is so adjusted that it will not operate at this time to effect the extinguishment of the lamp 18.

Continuing with the operation of the sys-.

tem, a relay 29 is connected in arallel with the stepping relay 24 and initia ly energized at the same time. Relay 29 is also included in parallel connection with the locking circuit of relay 24 and remains operated during maintenance of this locking circuit. The actuation of relay 29 closes a power circuit through its upper alternate contact for a motor 30, which drives the phonographic apparatus of the system throughthe medium of a shaft 31. The relay 29 on operation also closes an actuating circuit for the clutch magnet 32 of an answering phonograph 33, and for the governing magnet 34 of a switch 35controllmg' the operation of the release relay 25; this circuit extending from grounded batte lower alternate contact of relay 29, con uctors 36, 37 and 38, winding of'clutch magnet 32, conductor 39, contact 40 of a cam switch 41, conductor 42, and winding of magnet 34 to ground 'The switch 35 comprises a gear 43, movable into and out of engagement with a worm 44, fixed to the shaft 31, by the pivoted lever arm 45, the position of which depends upon the condition of the governing magnet 34. The gear 43 is normally engaged with the worm 44 and carries a contact 46 which engages a contact 47 to complete a circuit for the release relay 25 upon a predetermined revolution of gear 43. The amount of revolution necessary is so selected that a desired interval of time, for example. ten seconds will elapse before these contacts will be engaged, and inasmuch as the gear 43 is returned by a spring 48 to the position in which the contact 46 engages a stop 49, upon each disengagement of the gears upon operation of relay 34, the entire predetermined revolution must take place subsequent to a reengagement of the gears before the contacts 46 and 47 will be engaged. Inasmuch as the relay 34 is energized at this time the gears are disengaged and the gear 43 will not rotate.

A relay 50 is arranged in a parallel branch of the circuit traced for the magnets 32 and 34 and operates coincident therewith; this branch circuit starting from conductor 35 and extending through the winding of relay 50 and conductor 51 to conductor 39. A magnet 52 controlling the feed of the answering record 56 is also connected in parallel with this circuit; the branch circuit therefor extending from conductor 38 through the winding of this magnet to ground. On operation the magnet engages its armature 54 with the threads of a screw 55 which feeds the record 56 upward as shown in the drawing upon the coincident operation of the clutch magnet 32. Upon release of the armature 54 of magnet 52 the record is automatically returned to its position, a weight cord running over 1 An electro-magnetic reproducer 57 such as C. E-g erton, bearin winding of a relay 68'to' ground so this re.-' lay is operated at the same time as relay 66 shown in a copendin application of Henry erial No. 214,906, filed Feb. 1, 1918, issue as Patent No. 1,284,623, Nov. 12, 1918, or any other suitable electromagnetic reproducer, is associated with the answering record and inasmuch as :it 1s desirable in some cases to amplify the current changes produced by the reproducer, an amplifier arrangement has been provided in the present system. While an one of a number of different types of amp ifiers may be used for this purpose, a vacuum tube amplifier has been illustrated on the drawings. This amplifier arrangement comprises an input coil [58, a vacuum tube 59 having an input electrode orgrid 60, a thermionic cathode or filament 61, an output electrode or plate 62 and an output coil 63. The plate 62 is maintained positive with. respect to the filament 61-by a source of direct current 64, and another source of direct current 65 is provided to efi'ect the heating of the filament 61; the circuits from these current sources being controlled by a relay 66, the circuit of which is completed u on the actuation of relay 29 as previous y explained. This circuit extends from grounded battery, lower alternate contact of relay 29, conductors 36 and 67 and .winding of relay 66 to ground. A parallel branch 'of this circuit extends from conductor 67 through the v to connect the line conductor 11 with the answering and recording circuits of the apparatus,v as hereinafter explained.

At this stage of operation relays 50, 66 and 68 are energized and the reproducer' 57 is actuated by the record 56 to vary the magnetic field of the reproducer, which in I turn induces corresponding voice currents of a fluctuating character in the coils of the recorder. These currents being of a fluctuating character can pass through the condenser 69, completin a circuit throughthe primary windin of input coil 58-t0 induce corresponding a ternatlng currents thereto in the secondary of this coil. This circuit extends from reproducer 57, engaged'con tact 70 of cam switch 41, condenser 69, primary winding of coil 58 and conductor 71 to the reproducer 57. To those familiar with the operation of the vacuum tube amplifier it'will be evident that the potential of the grid 60 is varied accordingly, and that the potential difference between the grid 60.

and the plate 62 is correspondingly varied.

These changes of potential roduce currentfluctuations corres onding t erewith but of increased amplitu e in the circuit passing through the primary winding of the output coil 63. These fluctuations in turn induce similar fluctuating currents in the secondary winding of the output coil 63, which are impressed upon the line conductors 10 and 11, over a circuit extending from battery of the cord circuit C, windingv 72 of the re peating coil thereof, tip contacts of plug and jack, conductor 10, switch 20, r1 hthand alternate contact of relay 50, con uctor 73, secondarywinding of coil 63, conductor 9, left-hand alternate contact of relay 50, alternate cont-act of relay 68, conductor 11, ring contacts of jack and plu winding of rela 17, and winding 74 of t e repeat- A parallel ci cuit for the telephonic cur-v rents generated in the secondary winding of the output coil 63,-extends from conductor 73 through a condenser 77, and winding of a telephonic current relay 78 to conductor 9. The fluctuating telephonic currents flowing through the winding of rela 78 move the armature 79 thereof in accor ance with these fluctuations. A contact member 80 is also provided and mounted 'so as to lightly and yieldingly engage the armature 79 when the latter is stationary. The natural period of the armature 79 is preferably relatively high and the natural period .of the contact member 80 is preferably much lower, so that,

during the receipt of fluctuating telephonic currents the vibrations of the armature 79 and contact member SO'keep them separated so far as practical purposes are concerned;

The relay 78 controls the circuit of another relay 81, which circuit extends in series through armature 79 and contact member 80. Battery is suppliedto this circuit'up'on the operation-of relay 29 and the consequent condition thereof depends on whether or not relay 78 is being actuated by fluctuating telephonic currents passing through its winding. So lon as no current is passing through the winding of relay 78 the contact between armature 79 and member 80 is.

&

fluctuating currents pass through the winding of relay 78, the armature system is set in vibration to open this circuit at contact 80 and to maintain it open for all practical purposes so long as the fluctuating currents are received. As soon as they cease the circuit is again closed to operate relay 81.

Relay 81 is designed to control the clutch magnets 84 and 85 of the recording apparatus 86 and 87 respectively, as hereinafter explained, but 'is without efiect thereon at the present stage of operation, inasmuch as the operating circuits for these magnets are open at other points at this time.

Still another parallel circuit for the telephonic currents generated in the secondary of the output coil 63 extends from conductor 73 through condenser 88, conductor 89, electromagnetic recorder 90, upper enga ed contact 91 controlled by cam 92 to con uctor 9. Recorder 90 would be operated thereby, but inasmuch as the recording cylinder 94 is not in motion at this time, this is not objectionable, especially since the mechanical construction of the recording apparatus is preferably such that the recorded 90 is engaged with the cylinder 94 only during recording movement of the cylinder.

The message carried by the/record 56 will be trai'isn'litted to the calling subscriber in the manner previously described and the answering apparatus carries a contact 95 arranged to engage a contact 96 just prior to the completion of the answering message and to be disengaged therefrom immediately upon completion of this message. (in engagement of these contacts a stepping relay 9? is energized, and upon its subsequent deenergization, upon the disengagement of these contacts, this relay operates to turn the cam switch 41 one step, thereby opening contacts and 70. The opening of contact 70 opens the circuit of the reproducer 57; while the opening of contact 40 opens the circuits of clutch magnet 32, governing magnet 34, and relay 50. The magnet 52 controlling the record feed is, however, still energized and revents the restoration of record 56 to its initial position at this time. The energizing circuit ,for magnet 52 extends from grounded battery, lower alternate contact of relay 29, conductors 36, 37 and 38 and winding of magnet 52 to ground.

The preceding operations consume but a few seconds and upon the deenergization of relay another direct current circuit is completed and sufiicient current flows throughthis circuit to operate the supervisory relay 17 at this time. This circuit extends from battery, winding 72 of repeating coil, tip contacts of plug 16 and jack 12, conductor 10, switch 20, right-hand normal contact of relay 50, primary winding of imput coil 58, left-hand normal contact of relay 50, alternate contact of relay 68, conv ductor 11, ring contacts of jack 12 and plug the repeatlng coil back to battery. The

operation of relay 17 substitutes a path. of

low resistance about the lamp 18 and thus effects its extinguishment.

In ordinary telephone systems this lamp is extinguished on the called subscriber removing his receiver from the hookswitch on answering, and indicates to the operator that the deslred connection has been obtained. The extinguishment of the lamp 18 in the present case will indicate that connection has been obtained with the desired station and that it is unnecessary to operate the ringing key 19 to signal party A. The application of signaling current in the usual manner is not objectionable, however, and in cases where subscriber A has returned but failed to open the switches 20- and 26, the ringing of the bell of his set would enable him to open the switches and to answer the call in person.

Operation of the cam 41 in addition to opening contacts 40 and also closes a contact 98 so that release of relay 81, due to the actuation of relay 78 on the calling party speaking, completes an operating circuit for t e clutch ma net 84 of the recording apparatus 86. his circuit extends from grounded battery, lower alternate contact of relay 29, conductor 82, normal contact of relay 81, conductor 99, clutch magnet 84, lower closed contact 100 of cam 92, conductor 101, closed contact 98 of cam 41, conductor 42, and winding of governing magnet 34 to ground. The actuation of theclutch magnet 84 sets the recording apparatus 86 in operation.

Upon the release of relay 50 as a result of the opening of contact 40, the primary winding of the input coil 58 was disconnected from the circuit from the reproducer 57, and connected through the normal contacts of this relay and the alternate contact of relay 68 with the line conductors 10 and 11 through which telephonic connection is obtained with the calling subscriber. The calling party in delivering his message will set up current fluctuations through the windings and 76 of the repeating coil, inducing corresponding currents in the winding of the input coil 58, current fluctuation in this primary resulting in the production of corresponding amplified current fluctuations in the secondary of the output coil 63. The amplified currents passing through the relay 78 operate it to keep the contact 80 open to prevent relay 81 from pulling up and opening the circuit of the clutch magnet 84 so long as these currents continue. Should the calling party stop talking, even for a short while, it would result in a cessation of the fluctuating currents generated in the output coil 63, and

47 until the magnet 34 is again ener izedon the resumption of the message. long as this interval does not-exceed that after which the contacts "46 and 47 will be engaged, the recording mechanism 86 will be set in motion immediately upon the resumption of the message. From this-it will be apparent the recording mechanism is operat'ed only during the actual delivery of the message and thus prevents the waste of recording space on the cylinders which would take place were the recording apparatus operated during silent intervals such as often occur in the delivery of a lengthy message.

Should no message be delivered within the allotted interval, it is to be presumed that the party does not care to leave a message or has completed it, and under these conditions the restorationof the system to normal condition is desirable. The contacts 46 and 47 are engaged after this interval and energize release relay 25, which on operation opens the circuits-previously traced for stepping relay 24 and relay 29. Relay 24 on release also opens at another point the holding circuit for itself and relay 29, and moves its'pawl into position to step cam 27 to a position to open contact 28 on its next energization. Relay 29 on deenergization will open the circuits of, re-

lay 25, magnet 52, relays 66, '68 and 81, andalso opensthe control circuit of the motor 3O. The relay 25 would thereupon release,

but inasmuch as relay 21 would still remain energized under these conditions, no circuit .for the stepping relay 24 is completed at this time. The release of magnet 52 permits the record 56 to be returnedto its initial position, and in returning to this position the contacts 95 and 96 are first en ged, energizing stepping relay 97 and then disengaged, deenergizing this relay and thereby moving the cam wheel 41 around one step to engage thecontacts 40 and ready to answer a subsequent call. The release of relay 66 cuts off the current from the amplifier, thereby preventing unnecessary drain on the batteries 64 and 65, while the release of relay 68 disconnects the line conductor 11 from the amplifying apparatus.

The deenergization of relay68 opens the circuit over which the supervisory relay 17 is maintained attracted, whereupon its armature returns to normal position, since,

o the cord circuit extending to the calling subscriber, indicating that the calling subscriber had restored his receiver to its hook switch, the operator removes the plu of the cord circuit C from the engaged acks in the usual manner. In removing the plug 16 the tip and'ring connections are opened before the sleeve connections, which results s1 al (not shown) associated with the endin opening the circuit through relay 21. I

The armature thereof is accordingly retracted, completin an operating circuit for the stepping re ay 24 extending from grounded battery, normal contacts of relays 25 and 21, closed contacts of key 26, and armature and winding of relay'24 to ground. Relay relay 24, is also operated at this time. The conse uent operation of relay 24 steps the cam 2 one step, thereby opening contact 28, and the operation of ielay 29 momentarily closes the circuit through electromagnet 34 which attracts arm 45 of switch 35 thus disengaging the gears 43 and 44 and permitting the return of gear 43 to its normal position. The sleeve connections of the plug 16 and jack 12 on being opened immediately subsequent to the tip and ring connections open the circuit of the cut-ofi' relay 15, and this relay on deenergization completes the normal operating circuit for relay 21 extending through the windings of the line relay 13, without, however. operating it for reasons previously set forth.

29, which is in parallel with- The apparatus is now in normal conready to begin the "next succeeding message at that place on the record.

In cases where a number of messages are likely'to be received or where they are apt to be of unusual length it is desirable to provide two or more recording cylinders so arranged that when one is filled another cylinder will take up the recording. The present system accomplishes the purpose and is so arranged that recording is done on both records during the time the change is being made from one to the other, so that none of the message will be lost. Assume that cylinder 94 is almost filled when a new message is begun. Recording will take place as previously described until the recorder 90 reaches a predetermined distance from the end of the record, whereupon contacts 105 and 106 will be closed momentarily completing anenergizing circuit for the stepping magnet 107 individual to recording apparatus 87. On opening of this circuit, due to. subsequent movement of the recorder 90, magnet 107 is deenergized and in returning to its normal position steps the cam 'circuit of the recorder 90. Recording now takes place on both cylinders 94 and 111 until cylinder 94 has been filled to a predetermlned point when the contacts 105 and 113 are first momentarily engaged to energize the stepping magnet 114 of the cam switch 92. 8n subsequent movement of the recorder 90, magnet 114 is deenergized and in returning to its normal position steps the cam switch 92 around one step, opening the contact 91 to disconnect the recorder 90 p from the recording circuit without, however, disconnecting recorder 112 which continues to record the continuing message on cylinder 111. The opening of Contact 100 opens the circuit ofthe clutch magnet 84, thereby preventing further movement of the cylinder 94; but without affecting the circuit shortly before completed for the clutch magnet 85. Recording would now take place on cylinder 111 as previously described for cylinder 94, until the completion of the message. whereupon the system is restored to normal condition as previously explained.

Upon the return of the subscriber to his telephone he will reproduce the messages recorded in his absence in any desired manner. Any record which was not completely filled could be put back on the recording apparatus so that the next recording would start immediately after the other; while any records completely filled could be resurfaced and replaced on its recording apparatus for subsequent use, or an unused record substituted therefor.

The intercontrol between recording apparatus 86 and 87 is such that immaterial of the cylinder on which recording first takes place, as soon as that cylinder is filled. the other is operatively connected to continue the recording, the recording apparatus 87 having appropriate circuit connections and contacts 115, 116 and 117 which operate in means? the same way as the contacts 105, 106 and 113 of apparatus 86 to provide for this operation.

, In disconnecting the answering recording apparatus from his telephone line the subscriber first opensswitch 26 through which the initial operating circuit for stepping magnet 24 and relay 29 extends, and then the switch 20. The opening of switch 20 opens the circuit of relay 21, which thereupon releases without, however, completing the circuit for magnet 24 and relay 29, this being open at switch 26. In reconnecting with the line the switch 20 is first closed and then switch 26 as-previously explained.

Fig. 2 illustrates a modified form of control apparatus designed to be substituted for the apparatus enclosed in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The modified system is otherwise the same as the system of ig. 1 but is designed to be set in operation on the application of the pulsating signaling current normally used in signaling a station. In the actuation I of this system the switch 20 would be closed on the subscriber leaving his telephone but no direct current circuit is closed at this time since a condenser 120 is interposed in the operating circuit of the stepping relay 21', which is operated by pulsating or alternating signaling current to step a toothed wheel 121 one step on each energization. A release magnet 25' controls the release ofa awl 122 normally engaging the wheel 121 to hold it in the position to which it is stepped by the magnet 21. The wheel 121 carries a contact 123 which engages another contact 124 after a few steps have taken place, and thereby completes an operating circuit for relay 29, which is maintained until release relay 25' is energized to withdraw thepawl'122 in restoring the system to normal condition.

On receipt of a call for station A the operator would insert the calling end of cord circuit G into the jack 12 of As line and operate key 19 to supply pulsating or alternating current to operate the stepping magnet 21'. On engagement of contents 123 and 124 by this operation the circuit of relay 29 is closed. whereupon relay 29 operates, closing a number of circuits as previously set forth in the description ofthe system of Fig. 1.

Relay 68 is operated in this connection and upon the deenergization of relay 50 after the message on the record 56 has been delivered to the calling subscriber, a direct current circuit is completed, which effects the operation of the supervisory relay 17 to indicate that connection has been made with station A. This circuit is identical with the operating circuit for the supervisory relay as described for the arrangement shown in Fig.

1, and the remaining operations are the same as therein described until the apparatus is ready for restoration. At this stage the engagement of contacts 46 and 47 completes an operating circuit for release magnet 25', which on actuation disengages the pawl 122 from the tooth wheel 121 which thereupon returns to normal under the influence of a spring 126. Contacts 123 and ,pipxens the circuit of the supervisory rela 17.

econsequ'ent release of this re ay e ects the illumination of the lamp 18 and indicates to the operator that'disconnection is desired. The other steps in operation correspond with those set forth at length in regard to the system shown in Fig. 1, and upon withdrawal of the plug 16 from the jack 12 the modified system will be completely restored. to normal condition ready for subsequent use.

Fig. 3 illustrates one form of the present invention as applied to a recording station of a telephone dictating system, wherein dictation is delivered over a telephone line and recorded upon suitable records, which when filled are removed and transcribed. In the arrangement described a jack 150 is rovided at the switchboard and given a definite number which will be given by the subscriber when he desires to dictate over his telephone line. Line wires 151 and 152 extend from the jack 150 to the recording apparatus. In the present system the apparatus is shown as having three records, but any desired number of records may be arranged for and arranged so that when one is filled, recording shifts to a second, and then to the third,

and thence back to the first again, 'a fresh record having been placed thereon in the meantime.

On receipt of a call for the recording station, the operator after connecting with the calling party will insert .the jack 153 on the other end of the cord circuit 6" used into the jack 150, thereby operating a control relay 154 over a circult extending from grounded winding of relay 154,- sleeve connections of jack and plug 153 and supervisory lamp 155 to grounded battery. The lamp is immediately'extinguished, however, since a circuit for the supervisory relay 156 is completed, extending from battery winding 157 of the repeating coil of the cord circuit, tip contacts of the plug and jack conductor 151, primary winding of an induction coilv 158,

.conduct-or 152, ring contacts of the jack and plug, winding of 156 and winding 159 of the repeating coil to the other side of the bat.- tery. The relay 156 operating, shunts out of the lamp 155 to effect its extinguishment in the well-known manner, and indicates that connection has been obtained with the recording station. The operation of rela 154 closes at its upper contact a control circuit for a motor 160 driving a shaft 161 a through which the recording apparatus s driven, and closes at its lower contact a circuit for a control relay 162,

governing the operation of the clutch" magnets 163, 164 and 165 of the recording cylinders 166, 167'and 168 respectively. This windin of re circuit extends from ground, la 162, engaged contacts 169 and 1 0 of a te ephonic current relay171, and alternate contact of relay 154 to grounded battery. The relay 171 shown corresponds with the relay 7 8 shown on Fig.1 and has its contacts closed except during the assage of currents therethrough. The winding of this relay is in series with the secondary winding of the induction coil 158, so that it is actuated only during the passage of the fluctuating voice currents through the primaryof the coil 158.

Under these conditions the relay 162 is operated except during the receipt of voice currents at the recording station, and thereby prevents closure of the clutch circuits "except when dictation is actually taking place.

Waste of recording .space is thereby prevented and as soon as dictation is started the voice currents in passin through the primary of the induction C011 158, induce corresponding currents in the secondary which actuate relay 171 to disengage the con-' tacts 169 and 170, whereupon relay 162 is released and the clutch circuit completed to start recording upon the proper record or records.

The apparatus is preferably arranged so that when one record is practically filled, another will start recording and both record the same matter until the first record is filled, whereupon the first is disconnected and the second continues the recording alone. I

As shown on the drawing, records 166 and 167 are both in condition to receive dictation, record 166 beingjust short of completel filled, and record 167 being just' starter. Under these conditions on the release of relay 162, clutches 163 and164 wereboth energized, the circuit for clutch 1'63 extending from groundedgbattery, lower alternate contact of relay 154, conductor 172, normal contact of relay 162, conductor 173, winding ofclutch 163,'conductor 174 and second and middle and right-hand engaged contacts of switch 175 to ground. Clutch 164 is energized over a parallel branch of this circuit extending from conductor 173, winding of clutch 164, conductor .176 and middle and right-hand engagedcontacts of switch 177 to ground. The enga ement of the contacts of the switches 175, 17% and 178 is controlled by cams 179, 180 and 181 respectively, so,

arranged that allt-hree switch contacts are engaged just prior to the filling of a record to complete a parallel operating'circuit for the clutch of the next record, extending from conductor 173, through the clutch of the I next record, conductor leading to the lefttacts, thereby spective records into motion hand contact of the switch of the record nearly filled, and thence through the three engaged contacts thereof to ground. None of the switch contacts are engaged until after recording has commenced on its individual record but as soon as this has once commenced the middle and right contacts are engaged to complete a circuit through its clutch independent of the switch of the preceding record. The original energizing circuit is, however, maintained until after the completion of this independent circuit. In the system as shown dictation will be taken on both records 166 and 167 for a very few moments,ewhereupon switch 175 rides off the cam 179 and opens all its conopening the circuit of clutch 163 and the initial circuit of clutch 164. The independent circuit for clutch 164 having been closed by this time, however, recording continues on record 167.

The clutch magnets 163,164 and 165 on operating, in addition to setting their realso complete the connection of their respective electromagnetic recorders 182, 183, 184, with line conductors 151 and 152. The clutches 163 and 164 are accordingly energized as soon as dictation is started and the fluctuating voice currentsdeveloped by the dictator in passing through the windings 185 and 186 of the repeating coil of the cord circuit C induce corresponding'currents in the windings 15'? and 159 thereof which actuate the recorders 182 and 183. The circuit therefor extends from battery, winding 157 of repeating coil, tip connections of the plug and jack, conductor 151, thenc in parallel through recorders 182 and 183 and the: alternate contacts controlled by their respective" clutch magnets 163 and 164 to the conductor 152. thence through the ring connections of the jack and plug, winding of relay 156 and winding 159 of th repeating coil back to battery. On record 166 being filled, its clutch 163 is deenergized and its recorder 182 disconnected from circuit, the recording being continued on record 167, as previously explained.

On completion of dictation the party dictating will restore his set to normal, thereby illuminating the disconnect signal (not shown) associated with his end of the cord circuit, and the operator on observing this signal will take down the connection. The disengagement of the plug 153 and jack 150 in this operation opens the circuit of relay 154, which on release opens the circuits of the motor 160 and of the relay 162-, which thereupon release, restoring the system to normal ready for subsequent calls.

Succeeding dictation will start on the same record as that on which preceding dictation ended, and immediately thereafter so no space is wasted. An attendant will remove the records as filled and replace them by new records, resetting the records thereof back to the beginning of the-new record.

The arrangements herein setfforth are intended as merely illustrative' of thepresent recording movement of both the record and 1 the recorder, and automatic means controlling the means to effect recording movement in such a way that movement of neither the record nor the recorder takes place during appreciable pauses occurring in the delivery of the matter to be recorded.

2. A recording system comprising a mechanical ty(pe record, a recorder operable to cut a recor trace thereon, means to effect recording movement of both the record and the recorder, and automaticmeans controlling the means to effect recording movement in such a way that movement of both the record and the recorder takes place during actual delivery of the matter to be recorded but in such a way that movement of neither the record nor the recorder takes place during appreciable pauses occurring in the delivery of such matter.

3. A recording system comprising in combination, a mechnical-type record, a recorder operable to cut a record trace thereon, means to effect recording movement of both the record and the recorder, means to produce electrical current fluctuations incidental to transmission of the matter to be recorded. and electrical means automatically governed by the fluctuating current so developed controlling the means to effect recording movetil) luv

lot

ment in such a way that movement of neither the record nor the recorder takes place during appreciable pauses occurring in the delivery of such matter.

4. An answering and recording system comprising an answering record, an electromagnetic reproducer associated therewith, a recording record, an electromagnetic recorder associated therewith, an electrical amplifier, means to transmit matter to be recorded to the amplifier, means to operatively associate the amplifier with the reproducer during answering to amplify the currents developed by the reproducer, and means to operatively associate the amplifier with the recorder during recording to amplify the matter tobe recorded in its transmission to the recorder.

5. An answering and recording system comprising an answering record, an electromagnetic reproducer associated therewith, a recording record, an electromagnetic recorder associated therewith, an electrical amplifier, means to transmit matter to be recorded to the amplifier, and 1 common means to operatively associate the amplifier with the reproducer during answering to amplify the currents developed by the reproducer, and to operatively associate the ducer upon completion of delivery of 'the answering message, and means thereupon actuated to operatively associate the amplifier with the recorder to am lify the matter to be recorded in its transmission to the recorder.

7. An answering and recording system comprising an answering record, an electromagnetic reproducer associated therewith, a recording record, an electromagnetic recorder associated therewith, an electrical amplifier, a telephone line, means associable with telephone line to'develop fluctuating currents therein incidental to the transmission of matter to be recorded, means to operatively asociate the reproducer with the amplifier during answeringto amplify the currents developed by the reproducer, means to connect telephonically the telephone line with the reproducer through the amplifier during answering, means to operatively associate the amplifier with the recorder during recording, and means to telephonically connect the telephone line with the recorder through the amplifier during recordin in such a way that currents developed y the means associable with the telephone line are amplified in transmission to the recorder.

8. An answering and. recording system comprising an answering record, an electromagnetic reproducer associated therewith, a recording record, an electromagnetic recorder associated therewith, an electrical amplifier, a telephone line associable with said amplifier, means to associate the telephone line therewith, means amociable with the telephone line to develop fluctuating currents therein incidental to the transmission of matter to be recorded, means to operatively associate the reproducer with the amplifier during answering to amplify the currents developed by the reproducer, means to operatively associate an amplifier with the recorder during recording, and

means to vary the association with the tele- I phone line of the amplifier in such a way that the amplified currents developed by the reproducer are delivered to the telephone line durin answering and that the current developed y the means associable with the telephone line are amplified in transmissio to the recorder during recording.

9. A recording system comprising a record, a recorder, means to effect relative recordlng movement between the record and the recorder, means to condition the system for the reception of a message to be recorded, and means to automatically restore the system to normal condition provided no message to be recorded is received within a predetermined interval after the condit'zoning of the s stem.

10. A recor ing system comprising a record, a recorder, means to effect relative recording movement between the record and the recorder, means to condition the system for the reception of a message to be recorded, means to actuate the means to effect relative "movement upon the commencement of a message to be recorded, and.

means to automatically restore the system to normal condition upon the expiration of a predetermined interval after completion of the message.

11. A recording system comprising a record, an electromagnetic recorder, means to effect .rela-tive recording movement between the record and the recorder, a telephone line telephonically associated with the recorder,-means to develop telephonic currents incidental to the transmission of a message to be recorded, means governing the operative association of the means to develop telephonic currents with a telephone line, means to condition the system for the reception of the message, means to actuate the means to eflect relative recording movement upon the commencement of the message, and means to automatically restore the system to normal condition upon the completion of the message independent of the means governing the operative associa tion of the means to develop telephonic currents with the line.

12. A recording system comprising a record, an electromagnetic recorder, means to effect relative recording movement between the record and the recorder, a telephone line telephonically associated with the recorder, means to develop telephonic currents incidental to the transmission of a store the system to normal condition upon the expiration of a predetermined interval of the messageis not resumed within a predetermined interval after the beginning of such pause.

14. A recording system comprising a record, a recorder, means to effect relative recording movement between the record and the recorder, means to condition the system to be recorded, and automatic means operated upon an appreciable pause occurring in the delivery of the message to be recorded to restore the system to normal condition if the delivery of the message is not resumed within a predetermined interval after the beginning of such pause; the restoring means upon the occurrence of such a. pause being moved from the position it normally occupies immediately prior thereto and means to return the restoring means to such normal position upon resumption of the delivery of the message within the predetermined interval.

15. A recording system comprising a record, a recorder, means to efl'ectrelative recording movement between the record and the recorder, means to condition the system for the reception of the message to be recorded, automatic means operated upon appreciable pauses occurring in the delivery of the message to restore the system to normal condition if the delivery of the message is not resumed within a consecutive predetermined interval after the beginning of such pause, and means to insure the elapseof the predetermined consecutive interval before restoration of the system to normal condition independent of the occurrence of prior pauses of less than the predetermined consecutive interval.

16. An answering and recording system comprising an answering record having an answering message thereon, a reproducer associated therewith, a recording record, a recorder associated therewith, means to effect relative reproducing movement between the answering record and'the reproducer, means operative upon the completion of the answering message to condition the system for thereception of a message to be recorded, meanstofautomatically restore the system to normal condition upon the oompletion of the message to be recorded, and means to prevent the operation of the automatic restoring means until after completion of the delivery of the message on the answering record.

'17. A recording system comprising a rec- 'ord, a recorder, a motor, a clutch serving on operation to condition the record and the recorder for relative recording movement upon receipt of a message to be recorded, power transmission means connecting the motor and the clutch, means engageable with the transmission means and operable to restore the system to normal condition upon the completion of a predetermined interval after the beginning of a pause occurring in the delivery of the message, and meansmain taining the restoring means out of operative engagement with the power transmission means during actual recording of the message.

18. A recording system comprising a record, a recorder, an electric motor, a controlling circuit therefor, a clutch serving on operation to condition the record and the recorder for relative recording movement upon receipt of the message to be recorded, power transmission means connecting the motor and the clutch, means operated by the transmission means serving to effect the opening of the motor circuit upon the completion of a predetermined interval after the beginning of a pause occurring in delivery of a message.

19. A recording system comprising a record, a recorder, an electric motor, a controlling circuit therefor, a clutch serving on operation to condition the record and the recorder for relative recording movement upon receipt of the message to be recorded, a shaft connecting the motor and the clutch, a gear carried by the shaft, a second gear engageable with the first gear, a second circuit closed upon a predetermined movement of the second gear, and means operated upon the closure of the second circuit to effect the opening of the motor circuit.

20. A recording system comprising a record, a recorder, an electric motor, a controlling circuit therefor, a clutch serving on operation to condition the record and the recorder for relative recording movement.

upon receipt of the message to be recorded, a shaft connecting the motor and the clutch, a gear carried by the shaft, a second gear engageable with the first gear, a second circuit closed upon a predetermined movement of the second gear, and means operated upon the closure of the second circuit to efiect the opening of the motor circuit, and means to maintaln thegears out of operative en agement during the actual recording 0 the message. I

21. A controlling mechanism comprising a cuit, means to effect a disengagement of said pair of normally engaged gears, means to gears, and means forreturning said second drive one of said gears and thereby operate gear to its normal position upon their dis- 10 the second, a circuit for said driving means, engagement. I 1

contact means associated with the second In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe gear operated upon a predetermined movemy name this 15th day of July, A. D., 1918. ment thereof to effect a' change in 'said cir- HENRY C. EGERTON' 

